PRESS RELEASE; Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Celebrating Women in Leadership from the Agriculture and Fisheries Sector
As part of International Women’s Day #IWD2021 we are showcasing some of the talented and dedicated women in farming and from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Louise Main | Commercial Farmer and Community Leader
When we think about influential leaders we tend to look at those leading from the front but if there’s one woman who has not only served at the forefront of organizations but also mastered the subtle art of leading from behind; it’s commercial farmer and community leader, Louise Main.
Mrs Main’s passion for serving the community has been well documented in her roles as past President and Assistant Governor for the Apia Rotary Club achieving huge milestones in support of education in Samoa. However her influence doesn’t just stop there because she is also an active member on the boards of the Samoa Federated Farming Incorporated (SFFI), Samoa Association of Women Growers (SWAG) and the Informal Gardeners Group (IGG).
Leading from behind is active leadership and her approach of setting clear goals, creating environments that enable innovation and stepping forward in key moments to unlock everyone’s potential makes her a grassroots champion in farming circles. Mrs Main’s love for teaching and sharing knowledge is what drives her to participate in different farming groups while also learning from different farmers around Samoa.
“Farming is fun and as you get older you’re more conscious of passing on knowledge. I like to share what I know so the younger generations don’t have to do the path finding that I did, they can just step into it and carry on from there. I have a love of teaching that I didn’t think I had until after doing workshops and I am really am enjoying it.”
“I’m also very proud to be a member of SWAG and I’ve had the opportunity to host workshops for farmers and representatives of women’s committees on extending the shelf life of their farm produce through preserving as well as learning medicinal plants and alternative farming practices.”
Two years ago she led the Sandalwood Project for SFFI an initiative started by her ‘Guru’ the late Horticulturalist, Seumanutafa Dr Malcom Hazelman. She took up the torch from her teacher, giving away 20,000 Sandalwood plants and ensuring farmers in Upolu and Savaii had the opportunity to learn about and grow the high value sandalwood for exporting.
“Being a part of SFFI is a really good opportunity for me to get to know the rural farmers and see the other side of farming. I really enjoyed this project because I got to meet the Savaii farmers and get to know them. I try to spread out my involvements in different groups and learn what works for different slices of our community.”
Her reputation for being a forward thinking gardening enthusiast who is always working on something innovative and groundbreaking often precedes her. Her thirst for knowledge and patience to continuously explore and apply her practical ideas in the garden has been inspiring for other growers, who look to her for guidance.
“’I’m one of those people if I have time at night – I’m learning about something, whether it’s about bees or flowers, I can’t sleep if I need to find something out. Currently I am passionate about ‘Natural Farming’ which utilises eco-friendly growing techniques that is ultra-cheap, organic, and chemical free and effective. I am hoping to share these techniques with interested farmers’ in the near future through workshops. “
Last year the disruption caused by the global pandemic resulted in many locals returning to the land, including Mrs Main who took a major step forward from back yard gardening in Alafua to establishing a full time commercial farm in Nuu.
“My farm started because of the pandemic. Travel plans were cancelled and with SOE in place I started online courses on bee keeping and Natural Farming. When an opportunity of extra land (6 acres) to farm came up I jumped at the chance.”
“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine growing various varieties of taro and ta’amu for export but my farming journey has taken me down this path. I have always had an interest in the more exotic fruits and ornamentals but when I started a commercial farm 6 months ago this was the path I took.
Louise Main is optimistic in a future that sees farmers embracing working with nature and not against it. She believes women will be key drivers of change particularly in transforming social perceptions about agriculture and traditional farming practices for a healthier and prosperous Samoa.
“To all the budding young women out there; you can take farming to so many levels. The old perception that if you can’t cut it in school you have to take up farming is no longer valid. Farming is fun and profitable.
“There are Doctors, Lawyers and Scientists that are farmers. Farming is not a second grade calling it is the backbone of our society. You can influence our economic growth; take control of our environment and our food source to make an impact on the health of our people. We don’t need to feed the world; we can start by feeding our families, our communities and our country for a more sustainable Samoa.”
